Oorò Èṣù o!
Eríwo yà o!!
Éèpà Gbogbo Mọlẹ̀ o!!!
In the past years, Oodua land has been experiencing a cultural renaissance, in which our people have recorded positive improvements in our decolonization process. The Yorùbáland is re-emerging and reclaiming her position as an ancient civilization with immense contributions to the world. Across the globe, the Yorùbá identity is being embraced by all and sundry, especially among young leaders of thought.
This identity is a cumulative of everything that was and is about Yorùbáland since the beginning of time, when our progenitor first created and set foot on earth at Ilé Ifẹ̀; Ọbàtálá, Ọ̀rúnmìlà, primordial Odùduwà, Ògún, Ọ̀sun, and Èṣù Láàlù among others are recorded in our history as handed down by our forefathers as the common Ancestors of the Yorùbá people.
But recent history, and due to the incursion of foreign belief systems and spiritual philosophies, a lot of truths have been skewered and systematically forced into Yorùbá minds. It is a proven fact from observation and several personal experiences that these misinformation concerning Ìṣẹ̀ṣe - Yorùbá Indigenous Religion have led to discrimination of Oníṣẹ̀ṣe in places like Brazil, where ignorant and mischievous people now form militias on the basis of religious extremism and launch attacks on worship places, and even private homes of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Devotees. And here In Nigeria, especially in the Yorùbá heartland, there are cases of discriminations against people who openly identify themselves as Oníṣẹ̀ṣes.
This ugly development has been a topic of global conversations among people of Yorùbá descent, and corrections are being made where necessarily in order to foster religious unity among the Yorùbás who are known for being a people who are tolerant of diversity in spiritual philosophy.
It is however sad that, with all the strides being made towards this goal, we still have individuals close to our traditional authority deliberately and in fact, gleefully and mischievously perpetuating misinterpretations at the grave expense of people like myself and millions of others who’s identity and belief is rooted in Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, which the Irúnmọlẹ̀/Òrìṣà
Èṣù LÁÀLÙ is a major figure of. And with no fear of recourse while supposedly occupying a position who’s greatness came from the life and essence of a female Irúnmọlẹ̀ - Olókun Ṣẹ̀rín Adé who was a queen of Ilé Ifẹ̀ and wife of Ọlọ́fin.
Attempts by several groups within and outside Ìṣẹ̀ṣe community to sensitise the public about the misconceptions and misinterpretations of Èsù Láàlù to the Biblical Satan is being thwarted by this irresponsible action of this member of the Odùduwà Royal House in the person of Olórí (Evangelist) NAOMI SILEKUNOLA OGUNWUSI. And this begs the question…to what end?
As a member of many Ìṣẹ̀ṣe organizations, I have personally participated in conversations between the Ìṣẹ̀ṣe community and his Royal Majesty, Ọọ̀ni Ogunwusi, Ọ̀jájá the second on the need to preserve religious peace in Yorùbáland and the importance of fairness to all his subjects; irrespective of religious beliefs. However, it seems that the cordial manner in which the Ìṣẹ̀ṣe community is handling the matter is being taken for granted.
Let it be known that, I have the utmost respect for traditional monarchy as the Irúnmọlẹ̀s that I serve and have faith in were the first rulers and kings in Yorùbáland, therefore, I am mandated by faith and tradition to hold our thrones in utmost esteem as they are a source of absolute power and authority, charged with the responsibility of preserving the all that is Yorùbá.
Myself and other Oníṣẹ̀ṣe had hoped that members of the royal household would reciprocate and at least know not to turn our highly revered traditional Offices to platforms where they launch attacks on Indigenous Beliefs of Oodua people because of personal religious affiliation. But since reverse is the case, this petition and press release is of absolutely necessity.
I expect the demands in this petition to be met earnestly with the view that such grave actions will not occur anymore. And on behalf of all Èṣù Devotees across the globe and Members of Association of Òrìṣà Èṣù Devotees (INTASSOED), I hereby demand for public apology from Olorì Naomi Oluwaseyi Morenike Ogunwusi and retraction of her statement (Èṣú ti tẹ́), and which be done in a recorded video clip and caused to be published in two national newspapers and top 5 (five) news platforms in Nigeria.
Regards.
Chief Esuniyi Akanni Olagboyega
The Baálẹ̀ Èṣù of Ìbàdànland
President,
International Association of Òrìṣà Èṣù Devotees - INTASSOED
(CAC /IT/NO:140985)
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